Rolling Stock

Ms Angela C. Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much rolling stock operates on (a) Northern Rail, (b) London Midland and (c) franchises providing commuter services in London and the South East. [250717]

Paul Clark:
The quantity of rolling stock operating on Northern Rail, London Midland and franchises providing commuter services in London and the South East is outlined in the following table.

Operator

Number of passenger vehicles in service December 2008

(a) Northern

663

(b) London Midland

508

(c) c2c

296

NXEA

1,039

FCC

659

Chiltern

156

FGW

609

SWT

1,339

Southern

1,141

South Eastern

1,328

Sea Rescue: Devon

Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the time taken to initiate a consultation process following the suspension of the Hope Cove lifeboat by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [250216]

Jim Fitzpatrick:
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is developing a local consultation which considers the search and rescue provision across a wide area of the South West Peninsular rather than just the provision at Hope Cove. I will be writing shortly to the hon. Member about the plans for local consultation.

Speed Limits: Accidents

Margaret Moran:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence his Department holds on the effectiveness in reducing accidents of (a) 20 miles per hour zones and (b) other speed restrictions. [250877]

Jim Fitzpatrick:
There exists a wide range of research which identifies the link between vehicle speed and accident risk. This answer identifies the key papers.

The Transport Research Laboratory conducted two reviews of 20 mph zones in 1996 and in 1998.

Both reports showed that 20 mph zones with traffic calming achieved an average 9 mph reduction in vehicle speeds and a 60 per cent. reduction in accidents whereas in those areas where there was little or no traffic calming, reductions in vehicle speeds were minimal.

For speed restrictions more generally, the Transport Research Laboratory published a review of non-UK studies in 1994 which established a link between vehicle speed and the risk of accidents. This indicated that, in broad terms, a 1 mph reduction in average speed can reduce accident risk by around 5 per cent.

26 Jan 2009 : Column 16W

In 2000 the Transport Research Laboratory published a report investigating whether this general rule could be applied to different types of UK roads and to further understand the relationship between vehicle speed and accident frequency.

The report concluded that for each 1 mph reduction in average speed the percentage reduction in accident frequency is between 2 and 7 per cent. depending on vehicle speeds and the nature and layout of the road.

Transport: Finance

Ms Angela C. Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will commission research into the effects of public spending on capital projects and programmes in respect of different modes of transport in stimulating economic activity. [250715]

Mr. Hoon:
In 2006 the Department for Transport published the Eddington Transport Study. The study reviewed a broad range of evidence to understand how transport can contribute to economic success. The study highlighted transport's pivotal role in supporting the UK's future economic success. The study is published on the internet at:

The Department has a comprehensive appraisal framework(1) that is used to assess the costs and benefits of proposed transport schemes across all modes. It includes an Economy Objective' concerned with improving the economic efficiency of transport, with a sub objective to provide beneficial wider economic impacts.

The appraisal framework builds on a broad base of evidence and research, including work produced for the Eddington Study. It builds in evidence on the value of time saved and reliability gains to businesses, which are important for economic efficiency. Recent evidence on the contribution of transport to national productivity, such as through transport's impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the labour market is also being incorporated into the assessment framework for schemes.

The Department is currently undertaking research to develop an approach for evaluating the productivity effects of transport schemes, ex post (i.e. after they have been delivered). This forms part of longer term work to generate robust evidence about the actual effects of key transport schemes on business productivity.

(1) The DFT appraisal guidance is on the Internet at the following address:

Waterloo Station

Susan Kramer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects platform 20 at Waterloo Station to re-open for train services; and what services will be provided from that platform. [248331]

Paul Clark:
Network Rail has now completed the works to convert platform 20 of Waterloo International for domestic usage. The Department for Transport is engaged with South West Trains seeking to reach agreement whereby they would operate train services into the platform.

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Written Questions: Administrative Delays

Justine Greening:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reply to Questions (a) 246918, (b) 246917, (c) 246775 and (d) 246919, on the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register, tabled on 18 December. [251347]

Jim Fitzpatrick:
A reply has been given to the hon. Member today.

Olympics

Offenders

Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many former prisoners are employed by her Office; and what her Office's policy is on the employment of former prisoners. [246354]

Tessa Jowell:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 872W.

Olympic Delivery Authority

Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will place in the Library a copy of the most recent edition of the Olympic Delivery Authority's (a) register of board member interests and (b) register of gifts and hospitality. [250198]

Tessa Jowell:
In accordance with its management statement and its commitment to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act:

the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has made its register of board members' interests and its gifts and hospitality register publicly available.

The most recent editions of: the ODA's register of board members' interests (quarter ending September 2008), and the ODA's corporate hospitality register (July- September 2008), are available on the London 2012 website. I will have copies placed in the Library of both Houses.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Mr. Hunt:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 879W on Olympic Games 2012: construction, what RAG rating has been applied to the (a) budgetary and (b) timescale elements of the Olympics construction programme in each of the last six months. [250377]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 22 January 2009]: It is not our policy to release the RAG ratings contained in confidential reports to the Olympic Board as, in isolation, they could be misinterpreted. When reporting to the Olympic Board, RAG ratings reflect the risks that exist, as well as progress to date, and these have recently focused primarily on financial challenges as a consequence of the current economic situation, as reflected in my statement of 22 January. Construction works over the last six months have continued to be delivered within the budget and on programme.

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Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Mr. Hunt:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what date construction began on (a) the Olympic Stadium and (b) the Olympic Village. [250269]

Tessa Jowell:
The Olympic Delivery Authority began construction of the Olympic Stadium in May 2008, two and a half months ahead of schedule, and of the Olympic Village in June 2008.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Mr. Hunt:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 879W on Olympic Games 2012: finance, what level of contingency was (a) requested and (b) granted in relation to the (i) additional seating requirements in the handball arena and (ii) the additional building works in the Olympic Stadium. [250376]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 22 January 2009]: The details of contingency releases to date will be contained in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games annual report, due to be published next month, and in subsequent quarterly financial updates.

Olympic Lottery

Hugh Robertson:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the Olympic Lottery scratch cards had raised at the latest date for which figures are available; and when she expects the operator to reach its target of £750 million. [251020]

Barbara Follett:
I have been asked to reply.

The National Lottery Commission have advised that as of 28 November 2008, designated Olympic lottery games have raised half of the £750 million target, and are on track to reach £750 million by 2012.

The National Lottery Commission compiles a quarterly report detailing the level of funds that have been transferred to the National Lottery Distribution Fund and the Oylmpic Lottery Distribution Fund, the next of which will be published on 11 February 2009 and will be available at the following weblink:

Olympic Park: Roads

Mr. Hunt:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what date the construction of the temporary roads and bridges required for traffic access to the Olympic Park was completed. [250267]

Tessa Jowell:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 January 2009, Official Report , column 1255W.

Scotland

Navy: Ports

Mark Pritchard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the future use of Scottish ports by the Royal Navy. [250347]

26 Jan 2009 : Column 19W

Ann McKechin:
Scotland Office Ministers are in regular contact with Ministry of Defence Ministers on a range of issues.

Wales

Departmental Manpower

Mr. MacNeil:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members of staff are employed in his Department's media and communications team; when each member of staff was recruited; what the responsibilities of each member of staff are; and what the salary of each member of staff is. [248513]

Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Wales Office has three members of staff employed in the media and communications team who are involved in a range of communication activities:

the Chief Press Officer recruited on 2 October 2006;

Senior Information Officer on 8 January 2007; and

Information Officer on 15 December 2008.

Salary information for individual staff is confidential and cannot be provided.

Departmental Pay

Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at his Department and its agencies in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and how much was spent on such bonuses in each of those years. [249860]

Mr. Paul Murphy:
No bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working in the Wales Office in 2007 or 2008.

Northern Ireland

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr. Gregory Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in each court area in Northern Ireland in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008. [251271]

Paul Goggins:
The number of antisocial behaviour orders reported to the Northern Ireland Office by the relevant authorities is set out by court area and year in the following table.